After several weeks filled with engagements, the Prince and Princess of Wales are now going to be absent for nearly a month – here’s why

Kate Middleton and Prince William at the Bermondsey Beer Mile

he Prince and Princess of Wales have had a busy few weeks with plenty of engagements, with William visiting a military base on Thursday. But royal fans are now going to have to wait a few weeks before the pair are sighted again.

The royal couple will be spending the next few weeks with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis once they break up from Lambrook School.

The royal trio are due to break up from their school on Friday, and William and Kate don’t have any engagements scheduled for the rest of the week. The family often disappear over Easter, and last year, they headed to their Norfolk abode, Anmer Hall.

The family were absent from the traditional royal church service held in Windsor, instead heading to a service held at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham. The royal family previously attended the service annually, but it was missed in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and also in 2024, due to Kate’s cancer diagnosis.

Work ahead of break

Both William and Kate carried out several engagements this week, with the pair in Canterbury on Wednesday as they marked the installation of Dame Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Waleses smiled and clapped along with the 2,000-strong congregation as those gathered for the historic service erupted with applause after Dame Sarah was formally enthroned.

Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales, arrive at Canterbury Cathedral © Getty Images
William and his wife attended Wednesday’s service in Canterbury

Although the couple had no active role in the ceremony, they listened intently to the first sermon by the new Archbishop, in which she spoke of her hopes for peace in the Middle East, and acknowledged failures on safeguarding in the church.

William, meanwhile, donned his camo on Thursday as he met female members of the 1st Battalion at Bulford in Wiltshire. During the visit, the royal heard about their experiences serving in the military.

man in army uniform laughing© Alamy Stock Photo
William donned his army fatigues

The former helicopter pilot also met with troops who had recently returned from a six-month deployment in Estonia before watching a demonstration of how drones are used in urban conflict.